Combined holder and punch for checks



C. A. ERICKSON. COMBINED HOLDER AND PUNCH FOR CHECKS- APPLICATION FILEDAUG.I7,1921.

Patented Oct W, 1922..

iilunm.

- CHARLEFS A. ERICKS ON, O35 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED HOLDER AND PUNCH FOR CHECKS.

Application filed August 17, 1921. Serial No. 492,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A..En1'onso1v, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Holder and Punch for Checks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in check holding and punching ornotching devices, and has particular relation to a type on each ticket.

of such devices especially intended for use in barber shops,restaurants, cafeterias, drug stores, soda and ice cream shops,theaters, meat markets, grocery stores, and in other places Where salechecks are used, to check the price of services rendered, meals served,or the merchandise bought by and served to customers, and also toindicate the number of the waiter, barber or salesman issuing suchchecks.

As is Well known, this class of pay checks or tickets have displayed onone of their faces'in a row along one or both of their edges, a seriesof numerals which increase from 5, in multiples of 5, to 100 or above.Such checks also have, near their upper ends, arranged in a transverserowon each check, a series of numerals which increase numerically or bydigits, and at their lower ends another row of digits disposedtransversely This last named row of numerically increased digits,indicate in dollars, when properly notched, the amount purchased, whilethe transverse row of digits near the upper end of each check indicate,when properly notched, the number oi the customers served.

These checks or tickets are usually formed by being placed one on theother and glued or otherwise fastened together at one of their ends,into tablets or pads, the fastened portions of the tickets constitutingthe stub of the tablet or pad. By this arrangement, the checks ortickets may be removed one at a time, by tearing them off at a weakenedplace therein, at the inner end of the stub, when it is necessary toindicate thereon, by punching or notching out one or more of thenumbers, the amount to be paid to the cashierfor the meal which has beenserved or as the price of an article or articles which have beenpurchased, or one of the digits, to designate the number of customersserved.

The principal object of my present inventron, is to provide, as a unit,a combined holder and punch for sales checks or tickets embodying alockable receptacle for the punchlngs of such checks, which shall besimple and inexpensive in construction, attractrve 1n appearance,compact and portable 1n form, and size, (although designed forstationary or fixed use,) strong, durable and eflicient in operation,with its parts so made, arranged and co-operating with one another,that, in the operation of punching or notching the checks, one at atime, the same will be so held by a part of the device, or a gauge andstripping member thereof, that the numeral to be punched out will beclearly visible to the operator, thereby reducing to a minimum. theliability of making mistakes, which so frequently occur when punches ofthe old style are used.

A. further object is to so construct and mount. the gauge and strippingmember of the device, with respect to the punch and lockable receptaclefor the punchings, that when the checks are placed, one at a time, 1nposition for the proper numeral to be punched out, notonly willsaidnumeral be clearly visible to the user till the punch covers thesame in its downward movement and clips it from the check, but it willalso be stripped from the check and punch when the former is removedfrom the gauge or stripper and the latter automatically assumes itsnormal position, thus causing the punehedout or numeral carrying portionof each check to be positively deposited in the receptacle therefor.

Still another object is to so construct the device that one of the wallsof the lockable receptacle thereof will coact with the check holdingsocket and clamping member in such a manner as to securely hold a blockor pad or checks against accidental lateral movement in one direction,yet in such a way as to permit the checks to be readily detached, one ata time, from the pad.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed inthefollowing description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawing, which serves to illustrate an embodiment ofthe invention- 1 Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of that side of theholder and punch on which the pad or block of checks is located and heldin position for being conveniently detached one at a time from the pad.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing by dotted lines about the position one ofthe checks will occupy when one of the numerals is being punched out.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the lower portion of the opposite sideof the holder and punch from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4 showing the meansfor securing one end of the door for the lockable receptacle inposition. I 1

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views of the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of thedrawing, the reference numeral 10 designates the base of the holder andpunch which is by preference substantially rectangular in shape and maybe made of any suitable size and material. This base or, plate lOisprovided on its upper surface along one of its side edges with a boxlikereceptacle 11 which is by preference an integral part of the base 10 andhas extended from its rear portion an upwardly and forwardly disposedextension or bracket 12 which is also by preference integral with thereceptacle 11 and base 10 of the holder and punch.

As shown in Fig. l, the front portion of the bracket or extension 12overlies a portion of the horizontal wall of the receptacle 11 and hasdepending from the rear portion of said overlying part a transverselydisposed vertical wall 13, thus affording a recess between the lowersurface of the overhanging arm or portion 14 of the bracket 12 and thetop or horizontal wall of the receptacle 11 of the device. The portion14 of the bracket or extension 12 is provided with a vertical opening15,- in which is movably located a plunger 16 which is provided on itsupper end with a knob or handle 17 for the operation of said plunger inone direction. The lower portion of the plunger 16 is provided with aVertically disposed groove 18 into which is extended one end of a pin 19used for preventing rotation of the plunger or for guiding the same.

Surrounding the plunger 16 between its knob or handle 17 and the uppersurface of the arm 14 of the bracket 12, is a spring 20 one end of whichrests against the arm 14 and the other end against the handle or knob 17and is employed for retracting the plunger 16 to its normal positionafter it has been forced downwardly in the operation of punching ornotching a check. The lower end of the plunger is provided with avertical slot 21 for the reception of a tongue 22 extended upwardly fromthe die 23 of the punch, which die may be of any suitable form but bypreference substantially U-shaped in cross-section so as to produce asimilar shaped notch in the checks when they are punched. The lowersurface of the die 23 is rearwardly beveled as is clearly shown in Figs.1 and 3 of the drawing, so as to afford a shearing cut of the ticketwhen the die is forced through an opening 24 in a plate 25 which issecured to the upper surface of the receptacle 11, which receptacle isprovided in its top with an opening 26 located in register with theopening 24 of the die plate 25 so that the punchings from the checks maybe deposited in the box or receptacle 11 of the holder and punch.

The tongue 22 of the die or punch 23 held in position within the slot 21of the plunger by means of a pin 27 extended transversely throughsuitable openings in the tongue and plunger. 5y this arrangement it isapparent that should the die 23 become injured or deficient. it can beremoved and another readily placed in its stead.

Secured to the vertical wall 1?) ol" the bracket 12 is the gauge andstripping member of the device, which consists of an upright plate 28which is secured to the wall 13 and has forwardly extended from itslower end a plate 29 which has a pair of spaced prongs 30 extendedforwardly of the opening 24 in the die plate 25 and deflected upwardlyat their free ends as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing.

Each of the prongs 30 of the plate 29 is provided near its outer edgeand at about its middle with a depending stop member 31 which rests atits lower end on the upper surface of the die plate 25 on each side ofthe opening 24 therein but rearwardly of the front end of said opening,as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawing. The stopmembers 31. are by n'el'erence punched out of the prongs 30 of the plate25), and serve to hold said plate at a slight distance from the uppersurface of the die plate 25, so that a check 32, after it has beendetached from the pad or block 33, can he placed cross-wise of the frontportion of the receptacle l1 and between the prongs 30 and die plate 25,with one of its edges against the stops 31, when it is apparent that thenumber on the check to be punched out can be disposed so as to liebetween the prongs 30, in which position said. number will be clearlyexposed to the view of the user of the device and will be in position.to he punched out by forcing the punch or die 2;! downwardly through theopenings in the die plate and upper part of the lockable receptacle.

After pressure has been removed from the 20 will restore said die andits carrying plunger to their normal positions. "The check 32 havingbeenp'unched, can now be removed from between the gauge and strippermember andthe die plate, when it is evident the parts will be inposition :forthe above described operationto be repeated.

The rear end of the-base plate 10 is provided with a verticalwall 34:which merges with or forms part of the. rearwall of the receptacle 11and terminates at its upper end about flush with the top of saidreceptacle. At its outer edge the wall 3 f has extended laterallytherefrom a Wall 35 which, being spaced from the adjacent wall of thereceptacle 11, forms with said wall and the end wall 3 1, a socket orrecess for the rear end of the pad 33 of checks or tickets. Extendedhorizontally from the rear lower portion of the bracket 12 inparallelism with the upper end of the wall 34 is a stub-shaft 36 onwhich is mounted a clamping or gripping member for the rear r end of thepad 33 of checks. This clamping or gripping member is designated as awhole by the numeral 37 and comprises a pair of angular pieces 38 and 39of sheet metal 10- cated one 011 the other and secured together by meansof rivets 40 or otherwise. lower member 39 of the clamp 37 is providedrearwardly of its angle with a pair of depending loops 41 which surroundthe shaft 36 near its ends and thus provides a bearing for the clamp orgripping member. Surrounding the shaft 36 is a coiled spring 42, one endof which is secured to the upper end of the wall 34: and the other endto the lower surface of the member 39 of the clamp. The front edges ofthe members 38 and 39 of the clamp are preferably serrated or toothed asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, so as to more effectually engage theupper surface of the rear end of the pad of checks. This engagement ofthe clamping or gripping member 37 with. the pad will be efi'ected at apoint slightly to the rear of the weakened portions of the checksindicated by the dotted line 43, see Fig. 1 of the drawing.

That side of the receptacle 11 opposite the socket for the check pads isprovided with a longitudinally extended opening 4 1, which is closed bya door 45 having near one of its ends a lock d6 of any suitable kind toengage a socket or other suitable device on the rear end wall of thereceptacle 11, so as to lock said door in its closed position. On itsfront inner surface the door 45 is provided with a forwardly extendedbracket 16, to engage a lug 47 extended inwardly from the front wall ofthe receptacle 11 near; its outer edge. By this arrangement, it isapparent that the bracket 46 can be placed in engagement with the lug47, when by locking the opposite end of the door the The i latter willbe securely held in place so that accessto the punchings of the checksheld by the compartment or receptacle cannot be had except by anauthorized person or one having a key to the lock for said-receptacle.

By employing thelockable receptacle, it a is manifest that all of thepunchings from the checks will be deposited therein, and that at theclose of business during each day, or

oftener, this box can be opened and the punchings checked up with thetickets or checks issued by the person using the check holder and punch.

Having thus fully described my invention, what T claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described,the combination. with a base, of a bracket supported thereby andoverlying a portion thereof, a punch mounted on said bracket forvertical movement, an orificed die plate mounted below the punch forco-action therewith, and a member horizontally mounted above said plateand having a pair of prongs located one on each side of the orifice insaid plate whereby the numeral or numerals to be punched out of a checkplaced between the said. member and die plate will be exposed to Viewbetween said prongs.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, of abracket supported thereby and overlying a portion thereof, a punchmounted on said bracket for vertical movement, an orificed die platemounted below the punch for co-action therewith, and a memberhorizontally disposed above said plate and having a pair of prongslocated one on each side of the orifice in said plate, said memberhaving on each of its prongs a downwardly extended stop whereby a checkplaced between the said member and die plate will be gauged by said.stops and whereby the numeral or numerals to be punched out of the checkwill be exposed to view between said prongs.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a basehaving on its upper surface a receptacle provided in its top with anopening and in one of its sides with a doorway, a door to close saiddoorway, and means tolock the door in its closed posi tion, a bracketextended above the receptacle and having a portion overhanging the same,a punch mounted on the overhanging part of said bracket for verticalmovement, an orificed die plate mounted on the top of the receptaclewith its orifice in register with the opening in the top of saidreceptacle, and a member horizontally disposed and fixedly mounted abovesaid plate and having a pair of prongs located one on each side of theorifice in said plate, said member imaging a depending stop on each sideof said orrice.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination withv a base having on its, up-

per surface along one of its sides a receptacle at its rear end anupright Wall provided at its outer edge With alaterally extended.upright wall spaced from. the adjacent Wall of said receptacle wherebya-socket atone end of the base is provided, a bracket extended abovesaid receptacle and having a portion overhanging the opening in the topthereof, a punch mounted on the overhanging part of said bracket forvertical movement and co-aetion with said opening in the top of thereceptacle, a member horizontally disposed and fixedly mounted above thetop of said receptacle and having a pair of prongs located one on eachside of the opening in said receptacle, said member having a dependingstop on each side of said opening.

CHARLES A. ERICKSON.

